Slowing Conservative Momentum?

So has the game changed since the State of the Union Address? Signs seem to say yes.

Fresh off of Obama’s thumping of the Republicans at their retreat last weekend – a thumping so bad that Fox News cut out of the session – a couple tidbits hit the news this weekend.

First, there was the excellent news of the recovery in the job markets, unemployment surprisingly dropping below 10% and then there’s this chart, reflecting the effect of the Obama administration’s efforts to stem the destruction wrought by the prior administration:

Then there’s this: News breaking that, despite the growing hubris of the Right following the Massachusetts win by Scott Brown, they are falling behind considerably in fundraising for the next election cycle. Maybe the Right’s support is not as broad-based as Fox News or the pundits would lead us to believe?

… GOP political consultants and strategists aren’t popping champagne corks yet. Instead, they worry about the euphoria on the right and believe that the party has a long way to go before it can nail down a big win in the midterm elections.

Some Republican operatives are openly concerned about the party’s tactical disadvantages, most notably its financial position. Others fear that circumstances could change, robbing the GOP of its strategic advantage.

The National Republican Congressional Committee ended 2009 with $2.6 million in the bank, far behind the $16.7 million that the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee had. While the DCCC raised $55.7 million for the cycle, the NRCC brought in about $20 million less.

Next, we have word from the pollsters at Gallup that the Left continues to have a considerable lead when counting state by state.

Despite strong Republican performances in recent off-year elections, most states still favor Democratic candidates, according to a new survey by Gallup.

The compiled results of Gallup’s year-long polling of more than 353,849 adults in all 50 states last year and the District of Columbia, found that far more states are safe havens for Democrats than for the GOP.

Democrats can count 24 states solidly in their column, according to Gallup, as they have more than a 10 percentage point party affiliation advantage there. Another 10 can be counted as “lean” Democratic, with a 5 percentage point advantage.

Then, finally, there’s this delicious bit of irony. Queen of the Teabaggers, Sarah Palin while speaking at the Land of Misfit Toys… err, the TEA Party Convention … referenced Obama’s use of a teleprompter during his speeches, only to be caught with crib notes written on her hand – that were obviously written to help her respond to pre-approved and scripted questions. She never fails to give fodder.